Jun. 28, 2007

Miss Potter

Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson

3˝ stars

It's too bad this little drama didn't get a theatrical release in Reno, as it was one of the better films of 2007. The problem was probably that The Weinstein Company couldn't figure out how to market its little gem.

The film is a biopic of Beatrix Potter, author of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," which instantly makes folks think it's a kiddie film. In reality it's a PG-rated drama that adults will find just as engaging as young ones, perhaps more so. Think "Finding Neverland."

Renee Zellweger is terrific in the title role and she is matched by Ewan McGregor, who plays Beatrix's publisher/love interest.

The DVD includes a number of solid extras, the most noteworthy being an audio commentary by director Chris Noonan, a short Potter biography, and a decent making-of piece.

-- Forrest Hartman

Die Hard Collection

Bruce Willis

3 stars

Bruce Willis has stated in interviews that the latest entry to the "Die Hard" franchise, "Live Free or Die Hard," is the best since the 1988 original. At first that sounds like the sort of public relations blather you would expect from a guy promoting his latest project.

But having just re-watched "Die Hard" -- included as part of the four-DVD "Die Hard Collection" -- I'm convinced that he's right. In fact, I'm convinced that "Live Free" is the best of the series, if only because the original film has become dated over the past 19 years.

Nevertheless, "Die Hard" is a seminal American film that had an immeasurable influence on the action movies that followed. For that reason alone, it's worth considering a purchase of the "Die Hard Collection," which packages the 1988 original with "Die Hard 2: Die Harder," "Die Hard With a Vengeance" and a disc filled with new bonus features. Although the two sequels aren't on par with the first movie or the new one, they have moments, and fans should enjoy the set.

It is not recommended, however, for folks who own the previous two-disc releases of the movies. The video transfers are exactly the same and -- in some cases -- the movie discs have fewer extras. In fact, the only thing the new set has going for it is sleeker, more compact packaging and a bonus disc with previously unavailable extras. That makes it a wash between the new and the old, meaning folks who don't already own the "Die Hard" films will be happy with the new set, but there's no reason to upgrade.

-- Hartman

Moral Orel: The Unholy Version

Voice work by: Dino Stamatopoulous, Scott Adsit

3 stars

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim probably hasn't often been accused of playing it safe.

But, they've gone out on a whole new limb of mockery with "Moral Orel," claymation series boasting characters that look and sound like those found in the Burl Ives Christmas specials of old and story lines that skewer organized religion while gleefully reveling in filthiness.

There isn't a single plot that has details suitable for mentioning in print, but the general story of each episode is the same: Sweet, naďve Orel strives to do right, but through miscommunications with (and, sometimes, blatant lies from) adult leaders, he ends up acting in a singularly immoral fashion, being counterproductive or both. However, it's nothing that can't be resolved with a sound spanking and a lecture about one of the many "Lost Commandments." (That's how they do it in Moralton, Orel's home.)

This show definitely isn't subtle, nor is it sophisticated. But it does a good job of using humor to point out hypocrisy. If "Leave It To Beaver" would have been dirty and specifically taking aim at religion, it would be a lot like "Moral Orel."

Extras include promos/bumps, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a comic-con panel with other Adult Swim contributors.

And, it's worth noting that the "Moral Orel" DVD set includes the single most depressing Christmas special ever. Jeepers, I wonder what Burl Ives would say.

-- Maran Mascaro, Reno Gazette-Journal

Sansho the Bailiff, Criterion edition

Director: Kenji Mizoguchi

3˝ stars

A Japanese governor speaks up for the poor and as a result, he's exiled to a remote island, his wife gets sold into prostitution and his kids are forced into slavery. And that's during the good times.

This 1954 Japanese film from Kenji Mizoguchi ("Ugetsu") is a classic certainly, with perfection in acting, directing, screenwriting, music, everything. But, boy, is it rough going -- a repeated refrain throughout the film is "It's a tortured life." So while I admired it, I always felt at a distance from it.

Great extras: An audio commentary by a literature professor, who tells everything you need to appreciate the movie's achievement; insightful new interviews with the assistant director, actress Kyoko Kagawa and a Japanese film critic; and a book featuring two versions of the original folk tale and a film essay.

-- Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal

The Tonight Show: Best of Stand-Up Comedians

Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Drew Carey, Steven Wright

2˝ stars

"The Tonight Show" back in the Johnny Carson days was great. Not only was Carson great himself, he gave a lot of top young talents their first big breaks on national television. About 20 standup comedy routines from the early '80s are compiled here, with many soon-to-be-famous comics, including Roseanne Barr, Steven Wright, Garry Shandling, Drew Carey, Jerry Seinfeld and Louie Anderson, with a couple of classic comedians tossed in: George Carlin and Rodney Dangerfield. Almost all have laugh-out loud moments, except for Roseanne, but the routines are nothing you need to seek out or replay.

-- Robison

Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster and Invasion of Astro Monster

1 star

On a commentary track for these two 1960s monster movies, commentator David Kalat says he's glad these films are available in their original subtitled Japanese versions and in their English dubbed versions so they're available not just to film connoisseurs but so that children can develop a love of Godzilla movies like he did. All I've got to say is that there are so many good monsters-from-outer-space movies, why inflict crap on your children? Instead, show them alien-being films like "The Iron Giant" or Hayao Miyazaki's "Castle in the Sky." Or if you must show a Toho, man-in-a-rubber-monster-suit movie, try "War of the Gargantuans" -- at least it's genuinely scary.